Hypodermic syringe and cartridge and method of making cartridge



J. A. SAFFIR Oct. 10, 1939.

IY iPODERIIC SYRINGB AND CARTRIDGE AND METHOD 01: MAKING CARTRIDGE Original'iiled Nov. 20, 19:54

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. A. SAFFIR Oct. 10, 1939.

HYPODERIIC SYRINQB AND CARTRIDGE AND METHOD OF MAKING CARTRIDGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 20, 1934 NRA/44114 1 11/1 .1 III i W W% Patented one 10,1939 V v I 2,175,365

' UNITED STATES, PATENT.- OFFICE.

HYPODERMIO SYRINGE AND CARTRIDGE AND METHOD OF MAKING CARTRIDGE Jacob A. Saffir, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Multipule Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation'of Illinois v 7 Application November 20,1934, Serial No. 753,82

- Renewed February 25, 1939 i 6 Claimsf (Cl. 128-218) This invention relates to hypodermic syringes Fig. is a side view of the lower portion of the and to medicament containing cartridges or amsyringe shown in Fig. 8. pules adapted for use in such syringes. Referring'more particularly to Figs. 1-4, I have One of the objects of my invention is to provide here shown in somewhat diagrammatic fashion 5 a new and improved cartridge orfpackage cona number of embodiments of a cartridge or pack- 5 taining medicament for use in a hypodermic age constructed in accordance with my invention. syringe, characterized by the provision of a single It will be noted that each cartridge is a unitary cartridge divisible into two or more medicament structure constituting a single package adapted containing ampules adapted for independent use. for shipping and handling as such. It willals'o l0 My invention contemplates a single cartridge be noted that each cartridge embodies in its W constructed to embody a plurality of self-constructure a plurality, two in this instance, of tained ampules, the cartridge being, in effect, a medicament containing ampules, each ampule unitary structure divisible into separate and disbeing a self-contained unit ready for use at the tinct ampule units at the time of use. .will of the practitioner and being rendered in Another object of my invention is to provide a condition for. such. use by simple and easy break- 15 novel method of making cartridges of the kind ing-of one ampule from the other at the juncture 'herein disclosed. m I of the ampules. In actual practice, I prefer to Another object of my invention is to provide a use a glass tube, designa ne y y f r new and improved hypodermic syringe particuthe body of the cartridge and to constrict the tube larly adapted for handling ampules of the kind medially for the purpose of providing separate 20 hereindisclosed. f chambers Hand l3 eachhaving a tapered dis- Still another object of my invention is to procharge neck M for each such chamber. In the vide for certain advantages and conveniences in .form shown in Fig, 1, the juncture between the the use of these cartridges by reason of the novel neck portions l4 provides an open passage be- My invention in its broader aspect contemplates in Figs. 2, 3 a d t 81888 y t the j e improvements in the manufacture and use of between the tapered necks provides a dividing cartridges or ampules of the kind adapted for wall l5 between the chambers l2 and I3, closing us in hypodermic syringes, although it should one from the other, although this closure may be be understood that my invention in all of its effected by other suitable fractile means. In the 30 phases is not restricted to this use. preferred embodiment of my invention, this por- Other objects and attendant advantages will tion of the glass b y is S p d fashioned to be appreciated by those skilled in this art as the provide for brea transversely at one more invention becomes better understood by reference definite points preparatory to using the ampules,

to the following description when considered in or either of them. In the form shown in Fig. l, 35

connection with the accompanying drawings, in the practitioner would break the cartridge at the l whichmedial point, leaving both ampules open and Figure 1 is a longitudinal section througha, ready for use. In the form shown in Fig. 2, the

cartridge illustrating one embodiment of my intapered neck of one of the ampulesis periphervention; ally impressed as at IE or it may be scored by 40 Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary views any suitable means to provide for breaking oiI the illustrating modifications of the. cartridge at the upp r a p a s p n l av both mpul s juncture between two ampules; closed. The impression or scoring l6 may, how- Figs. 5 and 6 are somewhat diagrammatic views ever, be definitely located opposite the channel in illustrating different stepsin the process of manuthe neck above or below the dividing wall l5 so 45 facturing cartridges inaccordance with my inthat the ampules will be definitely broken at this vention; point, leaving one open and the other closed. In Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view oi a porthe form shown in Fig. 3,21 have shaped the-junction of Fig. 6; v ture portion to provide an enlargement or bead,

constructions herein disclosed. tween the respective ampules. In the forms shown 25 Fig. 8 is a vertical section through a hypo- "so that breakage will occur either above or 50 dermic syringe illustrating one form of use of an below this bead, leaving one ampule open and the ampule unit; a other closed. In Fig. 4 I have shown two enlarge- Fig, 9 is a vertical section through another ments or beads 18 and I9 forming a definite stopform of hypodermic syringe illustrating another per at the end of each ampule neck and also embodiment of my invention, and g l providing a line of breakage 20 which might also 55 be termed a scoring. In this form the first breakage definitely leaves both ampules closed. Each beaded end may then be broken off at will by the practitioner when he is. ready to use either ampule. My invention contemplates that in the, manufacture of the cartridge body the shaping and scoring of the intermediate or constricted portion will be performed by suitable means, and that the shaping. and scoring, or either, may be suitably arranged so that either or both ampules remain open, or both ampules are closed when fractured at a given point; and so that the closed ampule or ampules may be subsequently opened by a subsequent fracture.

A suitable closure or stopper is applied to the outer end" of each chamber l2 and ii, for example, such 'as a rubber piston 2|. Each chamber is filled with any desired medicament, the filling being done in any suitable manner, as through the rubber piston. According to my invention, the ampules of each cartridge may be of the same or difierent volumetric capacities and may contain the same or different medicaments. This affords a range of variation and usage not possible with the ordinary single chamber cartridges.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have illustrated diagrammatically certain steps of a method whereby my [0 and for venting or evacuating the chambers.

improved cartridges may be manufactured in a series from a single glass tube, although-it should be understood that my invention in its broader aspect is not restricted to this particular method. As shown in Fig. 5, pairs of piston. closures, designated by 22, are arranged in the glass tube II, with the pistons of each pa in closely spaced relation and with the pairsof pistons so spaced apart that the intermediate portion of the glass tube may be subsequently shaped to provide separately ampule chambers, such as the chambers I 2 and I3 above described. Each end of the tube will also be closed by a piston. In Fig. 6, I have shown the glass tube constricted intermediate the pairs of pistons as well as'intermediate each pair and the adjoining end piston. This step of constricting the tube may be suitably performed as by drawing, in the well known manner, leaving an opening 23 of suilicient diameter for passage of a filling needle 24. This filling needle may have inlet and outlet passages 25 and 26, respectively, for supplying medicament The needle is passed downwardly through all of the stoppers but the lowermost, approximately to the position 21 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, where the lowermost chamber is filled except for a small space at the top. The needle is then withdrawn upwardly and the constricted portion is sealed by means of a pin flame or by heating and suitable closing and shaping at this point to effect any of the juncture shapes shown-in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, or the like. The chamber next above is then' filled, the needle being withdrawn to the top of the chamber. The remaining chambers are filled in succession in the manner described. When the ampules of each cartridge are to be in communication as shown in Fig. 1, the step of sealing or closing the constriction would, of course, be omitted. It will be apparent that either a single cartridge or a series of cartridges may be made as a unit. Here I have shown a series of three cartridges, each having two ampules, constituting a unit or package adapted to be sold, shipped and handled as such. .The tube is peripherally scored at 28 so that the practitioner may conveniently break off the cartridges at will.

In Fig. 8 I have shown one form of hypodermic syringe in accordance with my invention. The

syringe has a suitable barrel body 29 equipped at its lower end with a hypodermic needle 30 and at its upper end with a plunger 3!. The ampule here designated generally by 32, is discharged through its open end 33, this end being suitably sealed in its contact with the barrel body, in this instance by means of a rubber seat 34. The ampule is held against the rubber seat 34 by suitable means such as the end thrust collar 35, which in this instance is integral with a cap 36 threaded onto the barrel and serving as a guide for the plunger. This cap also carries the usual finger grips. An ampule of this form may be used in syringes of the type having a canula 31 communicating with the hypodermic needle and I adapted to pierce a stopper or piston. It will be obvious that when a syringe of this type is used, the canula passes through the discharge opening in the ampule as shown in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 9, I have shown another form of hypodermic syringe in accordance with my invention, in which the medicament is discharged through the piston as distinguished from discharging through the tapered neck. Here, the closed endof the tapered neck is not broken off and the ampule, designated generally by 38, is inverted when positioned in the barrel. The piston 39 rest on anabutment 40 positioned" above the bottom of the barrel a distance approximately that of the piston travel in the ampule. The plunger is provided with a special bead 4 l-shaped to generally conform to the tapered upper end of the ampule and having a correspondingly shaped rubber face 42 providing a cushion for the irregular end of the ampule. A canula 43 communicating with the hypodermic needle extends upwardly beyond the abutment 40 and pierces the piston 39 when the ampule is placed in position in the barrel. It will be apparent that by operation of the plunger the ampule will be bodily moved downwardly in the barrel in a medicament discharging stroke. In the bottom of the barrel I have provided an ejector 44 which may be of suitable form, such as an annular thrust plate. Means is provided for moving the ejector lengthwise in the barrel to correspondingly move the ampule body for ejection thereof. Ths means in the present embodiment comprises finger grips 45 located outside of the barrel body and attached to the plate 44, the attaching means extending through longitudinal slots 46 in the barrel. It being obvious that by manipulation of these finger grips 45 the ejector plate may be moved lengthwise in the barrel in an ampule ejecting stroke.

It is believed the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the principles of my invention, it

being particularly noted in respect to the cartridge that it provides plural ampules adapted for- I of lower cost per ampule. Cartridges and ampules of this kind also afford greater convenience in use. My invention further promotes a wider range of uses by reason of the different capacities aud medicaments which may be embodied in a single cartridge which is particularly desirable 7 I 2,176,865 in the treatment of certain requiring a series of ejections. Itshould be apparent that changes and modifications may be made in the construction of the cartridges and syringes as well as in the method of making the. cartridges, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims,

I claim:

1. A double ampul each ampule having a constricted neck at one end and a piston closure in the opposite end, said necks being joined together, the juncture closing the ampules one from the other and being shaped to provide at least one enlarged portion fractible at the adjoining narrow portion. 2. A double ampule, each ampule having a constricted neck at one end, said necks being joined together .and having an enlarged, intermediate portion closing one ampule from the'other.

3. The method or making ampules including the steps of inserting closely positioned pairsot piston closures into a glass tube at'widely spaced points and peripherally scoring the tube intermediate the closures of each pair for subsequent fracture of the glass at such scoring into ampuleunits.

-4. The method 0! making ampules including the steps or inserting closely positioned pairs of the closures of pair.

piston closures into a glass tube at widely spaced pointsand peripherally scoring the tube inter mediate the closures of each pair for subsequent fractures of the glass at such scoring into ampule units, and constricting the glassltube medially between the widely spaced closures to torm separateampule units. a

5. The method of making ampules including the steps oi--inserting closely positioned pairs of piston closures intoa glass tube at widely spaced points and peripherally scoring the tube intermediate the closures of each pair for subsequent fracture .of the glass at such scoring into ampule units, constricting .the glasstubemedially between the widely spaced closures to form separate ampule units, and closing each constricted portion for subsequent fracture whereby each said unit is separated into two ampule units each v for independent use. a

6. The method of making ampules consisting in arranging piston closures in a glass tube in p irs with the closures of each pair relatively clos together and the pairs spaced apart suiilcientiy to provide two intermediate chambers, iorming a transverse dividing wall in the tube medially between each pair of closures, filling-said chambers with medicament, and scoring the tube between JACOB A. 

